Thirsting After God: A Journey of Spiritual Longing
Explore the deep longing for God through the story of a young man seeking spiritual understanding, guided by a preacher's analogy of thirsting for God like air. Delve into the meaning of thirsting after God, its significance, and ways to manifest this spiritual desire in daily life.
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MEMORY VERSE: As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? (Psalms 42:1-2) TEXT: Psalms 42:1-11; 43:1-5; 44:1-26; 45:1-17
INTRODUCTION STORY: A story was told of a young man who went to a preacher in search of God. After much discussion, the young man still could not understand how to find God. Finally, the preacher got an idea of how to explain the subject matter to the man. The preacher then led the young man to a flowing river.
INTRODUCTION CONTD. . Story cont d. As both the young man and the preacher got to the river, the preacher put the head of the young man in the river for a few seconds. The young man began to struggle, trying his best to come up for air, but the preacher held him under. When he finally came out, the preacher asked him when you were under the water, what did you want more than anything? The young man said, air, air, air The preacher then told him, when you want God as much as you wanted air, then you will find God. The young man understood. We need to thirst after God like a drowning man desires air, (Mathew 5:6).
INTRODUCTION CONTD. Three Points to Consider 1. MEANING OF THIRSTING AFTER GOD 2. MEANS OF SHOWING OUR THIRST FOR GOD 3. MANIFOLD THIRSTING AFTER GOD BLESSINGS FOR
MEANING OF THIRSTING AFER GOD Psalm 42:1-11; 63:1-8; Mathew 6:33; 11:28; John 7:37,38 Thirsting after God means having a strong desire for God and spiritual things. It is a longing for something or somebody. It is to love God with all your heart, spirit and soul. It is a desire to constantly drink from the living water.
MEANING OF THIRSTING AFTER GOD CONTD. When Jesus visited Mary and Martha for Martha busied herself with entertainment while Mary sat quietly drinking from the water of life. Jesus later corrected this to show us the one most needful and important thing in life thirsting after God. fellowshipping,
MEANING OF THIRSTING AFER GOD CONTD Thirsting after God is having a heartfelt desire to know Christ, become His friend, obey His commandment, walk in His way, reflect His image, serve Him faithfully and acceptably all through life. It starts with a sinful child realizes his/her sinful state, repents, turns from all his/her bad ways, then ask for through Christ s blood. Then continue to hunger and thirst for God. forgiveness and cleansing
MEANS OF SHOWING OUR THIRST FOR GOD Psalm 43:1-5; 44:1-26; 45:17;Matt 6:33; John 4:10;6:357:33-38 David, the psalmist, desired to enjoy God s presence which sometimes seem to be far away because of sin and backsliding. With this realization, came the need for repentance so as to renew his fellowship with God. To fulfil God s desire, we must seek Him now, love Him and become addicted to His will, way and Word. Thirsting after God demands sincere and genuine love for God, and hatred for sin.
MEANS OF SHOWING OUR THIRST FOR GOD CONT D. To achieve thirsting after God, you have a part to play i. Acknowledge Jesus as the Lord whose throne is for ever and ever and who loves righteousness and hates sin, Psa. 45:6,7. - Then repent of your sins and backsliding and surrender your life to His lordship.
ii. Drink from the water of life that provides. Desire and sanctification Spirit s baptism. iii. Trust God to fulfill His promises in your life. iv. Reconnect through regular quiet time and prayer, reading and meditating on God s word, obedience to God s word in all matters of life and spreading the good news. Jesus John alone 4:10. for the MEANS OF SHOWING OUR THIRST FOR GOD CONT D. pray and with God
MANIFOLD BLESSINGS FOR THIRSTING AFTER GOD Psalm 45:1-17 Thirsting and seeking God always attract great blessings into the lives of sincere seekers. Enoch walked with God for 300 years and was taken to heaven alive Genesis 5:22-24. Walking is a continuous forward movement. In our Christian walk, we are to keep our eyes on Jesus and keep walking towards Jesus until we see Him face to face. Moses thirsted after God through stedfast devotion and he saw God face to face.
MANIFOLD THIRSTING AFTER GOD CONT D ELIJAH stood for God in the midst of a corrupt nation and he went to heaven alive by a chariot of fire (2 Kings 2:11). ELISHA desired and prayed for a double portion of God s power and anointing and he received it. JACOB got his name and destiny changed for the better after he thirsted for God and wrestled with an angel. BLESSINGS FOR
MANIFOLD BLESSINGS FOR THIRSTING AFTER GOD CONT D Thirsting for God will attract into your life salvation, holiness of life, Holy Ghost power and Supernatural ability, uncommon success in all you do, victory over temptations, protection, preservation and eternity with Jesus in heaven. To enjoy all these blessings, you must thirst after God in the morning, at noon and at night and every moment of your life.
QUESTIONS 1.What does it mean to thirst after God?. 2.How should a (i) a sinful child (ii) Christian thirst after God? 3.What are the blessings of thirsting after God? 4.Are you daily thirsting after God?
LESSON: Thirsting after God is the most important thing to do in life. THOUGHT: I will thirst after God on a daily basis and live a holy life to enjoy God's blessings LESSON/ THOUGHT/ CHORUSES CHORUSES: (i) Inner my heart, Lord I want to be like Jesus. (ii) Follow, follow, I will follow Jesus. (iii) Seek ye first the kingdom of God
REFERENCES 1. https://www.google.com/search?q=thirsting+after+G od 2. https://www.google.com/search?q=elijah+chariot+of +fire 3. https://www.google.com/search?q=+ELISHA+desired +and+prayed+for+a+double+portion 4. https://www.google.com/search?q=JACOB+GOT+HIS +NAME+CHANGED
